Cancer patients lose out in benefits uprating

The Observer carried a story highlighting thousands of cancer patients who will lose up to £191 a year because of the the welfare benefits uprating bill, which caps a range of working-age benefits at 1% until 2015 – despite ministerial assurances that this cut would not affect disabled people. Charities and experts have warned that the 20,000 cancer patients who receive employment and support allowance (ESA) would lose between £138 and £191 a year by 2015 under the proposals. In total over the next three years, cancer patients would lose an estimated £6m in ESA payments, says Macmillan Cancer Support.

Ciarán Devane, chief executive of Macmillan, said: “We’re deeply concerned about the impact the welfare benefits uprating bill will have on cancer patients – especially as the government has pledged to protect them from this legislation.

“The proposed changes to employment and support allowance, which represent a real-terms cut, will further penalise vulnerable cancer patients at a time they can least afford it. We’re urging lords to protect cancer patients from these cuts by exempting all components of ESA from the legislation. Cancer is the toughest fight many people will have to face. The government should not be making it tougher for them.”

The DWP said those considered the most debilitated would not see their £30 support group payment affected, but conceded that the basic £70 a week payout would be.

For the whole article, see Cancer patients face cash cut under benefits bill, say charities